There’s a lot of fanfare around grant awards, but what happens after the ceremonial checks are presented and the reporters have published their articles? Our partners get down to business.
For 26 years, GOCO has improved Colorado’s great outdoors with the help of Colorado Lottery proceeds. We’ve put more than $1.2 billion in proceeds back into 5,200 projects to improve the lives of Coloradans across the state.
After projects are awarded funding, grant recipients have about two years to make their projects happen. In December, seven projects closed, representing $958,024 in GOCO investments into local communities across the state. Scroll to see if one’s near you:
Minturn Boneyard
$33,399 grant to Eagle Valley Land Trust
The Eagle Valley Land Trust obtained a conservation easement from the Town of Minturn on the 4.39-acre Minturn Boneyard property. Minturn purchased the property in 2013 to conserve it for public access and prevent private development. The conservation easement will protect the scenic character of the local rural landscape, including forested corridor along riverbanks, shrublands, and open meadows.
Read more about the project here
Cedar Ridge Elementary Playground Project - All For Play, and Play For All
$110,000 grant to the Pueblo West Metro District
With its GOCO funding, Pueblo West Parks and Recreation partnered with Cedar Ridge Elementary to create the first universally accessible playground in Pueblo County. Student-led fundraising and planning brought the project to fruition, and the newly constructed playground includes full-support swings, musical panels, and accessibility ramps and decks.<
Read more about the impacts of this inclusive park
Elkhorn Creek Forest Health Initiative: Expanding Wildfire Mitigation at the Ben Delatour Scout Ranch
$36,000 grant to the Colorado State Forest Service
In partnership with Larimer County Conservation Corps, the Colorado State Forest Service completed the Elkhorn Creek Forest Health Initiative. The work focused on reducing the risk of wildfires in and around the Cache La Poudre watershed. In addition to increasing local sawyer capacity and improving watershed health, the project made significant improvements to the forest composition and resiliency at the 3,200-acre Ben Delatour Scout Ranch.
Find out more about this ongoing project
Old St. Louis Natural Area Invasive Species Removal and Mitigation
$18,000 grant to the City of Loveland
The City of Loveland used its Youth Corps funding to expand on previous work at a 13-acre addition to Old St. Louis Natural Area in the Big Thompson River corridor. Larimer County Conservation Corps treated and removed invasive species, helping native vegetation to become re-established. The goals of the project are improving wildlife habitat and enhancing opportunities for public access in the area. Once completed, the project will provide a natural surface trail with access to wildlife watching and fishing.
More on Loveland Natural Areas
Park Property Acquisition - Old MCHS
$169,276 grant to the City of Cortez
The City of Cortez used its GOCO funding to acquire 14 acres of land from the local school district. According to the city, 11 acres will be used for a future park and the remaining three acres for an affordable housing development. This property is located on the city’s south side where currently no parks exist and where more than half of the community lives, making this future park easily accessible to many residents.
Learn more about GOCO’s LPOR grant program
Phase I - Batenburg Meadows Greenbelt Expansion
$66,644 grant to Costilla County
With the help of GOCO funds, Costilla County acquired five parcels associated with the Batenburg Meadows Greenbelt Expansion project. The five parcels, which equate to approximately 44.7 acres of land, offered a rare opportunity to acquire forested land for public use. The land will contribute significantly to the Greenbelt, providing access to a flat area with aspen and willow trees, and is also important wildlife habitat.
Check out the project release here
Smith Baseball Field Improvements
$33,009 grant to the Town of Limon
The Town of Limon used its GOCO funds to make safety improvements to Smith Field, the only baseball field in Limon. Updates included replacing the backstop, the home bleacher section, and outfield sod. In addition to providing a more welcoming site for practices and games, the enhancements also promote and support the community’s outdoor recreation programs.
South Platte Park Weed Tree Removal
$18,000 grant to South Suburban Park and Rec District
A crew from Mile High Youth Corps spent two weeks clearing the 900-acre South Platte Park in Littleton of invasive Russian olive trees and buckthorn along 11 miles of lake and river shoreline. Work included cutting, collection and disposal of brush, and herbicide treatment of stumps.
Find out more about Youth Corps grants
Medicine Mountains Ranch Conservation Project
$390,000 grant to Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust
The Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust used its GOCO funding to conserve an additional 920 acres of Medicine Mountain Ranch, bringing the project’s total amount of land conserved to 1,308 acres. In addition to preserving the ranch’s historic range and natural landscape, the project will also contribute to conserving the local habitat, which is home to many tree and wildlife species, including elk, moose, river otters, and sandhill cranes.
Read about other open space GOCO grants
Ross Ranch Open Space
$38,700 grant to Colorado Open Lands
Situated on the Yampa River just east of Craig is Ross Ranch, a place where cottonwood forests, ponds, and fields are plentiful and threatened species such as the bald eagle, river otter, and yellow-billed Cuckoo thrive. To support the protection and conservation of the ranch’s habitat, GOCO awarded Colorado Open Lands a Transactions Cost grant to fray the costs associated with conserving the property. The easement helps protect the area’s rural landscape and scenic views.
Learn more about GOCO’s Transaction Costs grant program
Merritt Ranch Conservation Legacy
$45,000 grant to Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust
The Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust acquired a conservation easement on the 2,600-acre Merritt Ranch, located in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Throughout the property are creeks, canyons, and springs that not only makes the ranch a haven for various wildlife species, but also provide resources to support agricultural operations.